Lawyers for Lac-Mgantic victims pursue CP Rail

Lawyers representing victims of the rail disaster in Lac-Mgantic are now going after Canadian Pacific Railway.

In legal documents filed late Thursday,lawyers involved in the class-action suitsallege CP bears some of the responsibility for the deadly derailment.

• CP Rail refuses to pay for Lac-Mgantic cleanup
• Quebec seeks Lac-Mgantic cleanup cash from CP Railway

Jeff Orenstein,one of the lawyers representing survivors of the disaster, said CPturned a blind eye to the shortcomings of the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway when it subcontracted the transportation of highly explosive material to the smaller carrier.

"They were alsoaware, or should have been aware, of MM&A's poor safety record, as well as their inadequate insurance coverage," Orenstein said.

The court documents state that CPpermitted a dangerous situation to exist, and with reasonable effort it could have prevented or limited the scope of the deadly derailment.

By adding CPto the list of potential targets, class action lawyers are seeking to increase the amount of a potential settlement, for while MM&A is bankrupt and underinsured, CP has deep pockets.

CP has declined to comment on the latest salvo against it.

CPrejects Quebec government order

On Thursday, the railway said it has no financial duty for the Lac-Megantic rail disaster, rejecting aQuebec government demand that it help payfor the cleanup.

On Wednesday, Quebecadded CP to a list of defendants that it says are financially responsible for a cleanup estimated at $200 million, according tobankruptcy documents filed by MM&A earlier this month.

Environment Minister Yves-Franois Blanchet reacted quickly, saying a minister does not ask for, or suggest, compensation, "he orders it."

"I'm not surprised," Blanchet said of CP's response, in an interview on Radio-Canada on Friday. "I'm disappointed. But it was expected."

"Isaid from the start,did all those companies involved,all those responsible, step forward to say, 'We're going to fix this. We're going to make sure things are cleaned up?'"

Blanchet saidCP'sdismissal of the province's demand is a"bad public relations move."

"Citizens are going to judgethese companies," he said.